I remember being told about backdating. I registered on 1st June (spent a month here as a tourist; on advice of Zug gemeinde!!) and was told we had 3 months to sort out health insurance. Kept forgetting about it, and mid-July got a letter from Schwyz gemeinde asking for proof of insurance!!! After much confusion and freaking out (I'm from the UK!) I filled out the forms and I remember putting 1st June as registration date, and was expecting them to backdate it- but when I got the documents they all stated commencement date was August (the date I signed the forms). I assumed they had let me off the two months and it must have been above board after all. But I haven't checked, maybe they still took the premiums?? It's my husband's bank account, I don't check it, I have no idea if we paid June and July or not!

I remember being told about backdating. I registered on 1st June (spent a month here as a tourist; on advice of Zug gemeinde!!) and was told we had 3 months to sort out health insurance. Kept forgetting about it, and mid-July got a letter from Schwyz gemeinde asking for proof of insurance!!! After much confusion and freaking out (I'm from the UK!) I filled out the forms and I remember putting 1st June as registration date, and was expecting them to backdate it- but when I got the documents they all stated commencement date was August (the date I signed the forms). I assumed they had let me off the two months and it must have been above board after all. But I haven't checked, maybe they still took the premiums?? It's my husband's bank account, I don't check it, I have no idea if we paid June and July or not!

it's easy to know when has started your health insurance. Just need to check the date mentioned on your health policy.

We were advised by the Zug Immigration office that it is a legal requirement to have insurance from the first day of the validity of our permits. This however worked to our advantage.

I arrived in Aug, 36 weeks pregnant, on a tourist visa. Had to pay for all gynaecologist appointments and the subsequent birth in September. Issued permits in October but back dated to our initial date of arrival in Aug. Insurance had to be back dated to August as advised.

On presenting my insurance docs to the Gemeinde's office I was told to take same to hospital together with my banking details. A little over 2 weeks later the hospital had paid back all the money I had paid for consultations and delivery. The insurance foot the whole bill.

I've asked for clarification of what constitutes an 'excusable delay'- the rest is pretty clear. Interesting about the added 30-50% of the premium in case of delay for double the delay time. Didn't know about that.

'La date d'arrivée' does not = the date of the residence permit, does it? You have to register with the Commune within 2 weeks of arrival max- the fact the residence permit may not be issued immediately is irrelevant, it is the date of arrival that counts. I agree that the backdating to the beginning of the month of arrival is clearly optional, as implied by the word 'peut' (can) and not 'doit' (must)- the rest is clear. Assura insisted we paid from the 1st of the month of arrival, we arrived on 29th- but apparently they could have waved this.

Totally unfair, as said by Urs- to allow expats up to 6 months, eg 3 full free months + month of arrival, for free. Would you do the same for car insurance or ECAP, etc? At a time when premiums are going up through the roof, and savings having to be made, it does not make sense.

'La date d'arrivée' does not = the date of the residence permit, does it? You have to register with the Commune within 2 weeks of arrival max- the fact the residence permit may not be issued immediately is irrelevant, it is the date of arrival that counts. I agree that the backdating to the beginning of the month of arrival is clearly optional, as implied by the word 'peut' (can) and not 'doit' (must)- the rest is clear. Assura insisted we paid from the 1st of the month of arrival, we arrived on 29th- but apparently they could have waved this.

Totally unfair, as said by Urs- to allow expats up to 6 months, eg 3 full free months + month of arrival, for free. Would you do the same for car insurance or ECAP, etc? At a time when premiums are going up through the roof, and savings having to be made, it does not make sense.

Looks like you need to point out the error to Assura & take legal action if they don't refund.

Indeed not happy to pay for whole month when we arrived on 29th. Hence mentioning it here so people coulc avoid that pitfall- for a family it is a sizeable sum. But now I've investigated the legality of it, I have not a leg to stand on clearly.

Still, as a warning, it is worth mentioning again. Many insurances will back date to the 1st of the month of arrival, even if you arrive right at the end. They can choose to wave this. So either arrive at beginning of month, or when you register with the Commune/Gemeinde, which has to be done within 2 weeks max of arrival, give the first of the month as arrival date (so if arrive on 30th of March, put down 1st of April). If they are allowed to give you a few days grace, they are not allowed to not backdate to beginning of the first 3 months though- unless there are exceptional circumstances- and awaiting to hear from official body what constitute an exceptional excuse.

BTW, the same happens for the birth of a child- but in this case the date is clear and there is nothing you can do- you have to back pay to 1st day of birth month, even if baby is born on 31st. So if you have an elective C-section, keep that in mind.

Indeed not happy to pay for whole month when we arrived on 29th. Hence mentioning it here so people coulc avoid that pitfall- for a family it is a sizeable sum. But now I've investigated the legality of it, I have not a leg to stand on clearly.

Still, as a warning, it is worth mentioning again. Many insurances will back date to the 1st of the month of arrival, even if you arrive right at the end. They can choose to wave this. So either arrive at beginning of month, or when you register with the Commune/Gemeinde, which has to be done within 2 weeks max of arrival, give the first of the month as arrival date (so if arrive on 30th of March, put down 1st of April). If they are allowed to give you a few days grace, they are not allowed to not backdate to beginning of the first 3 months though- unless there are exceptional circumstances- and awaiting to hear from official body what constitute an exceptional excuse.

BTW, the same happens for the birth of a child- but in this case the date is clear and there is nothing you can do- you have to back pay to 1st day of birth month, even if baby is born on 31st. So if you have an elective C-section, keep that in mind.

Odile, two weeks ago you said the opposite about backdating and back paying to 1st day of arrival :

" Helvetia67- would you care to clarify how you justify this, as it is clearly illegal. Insurance has to be taken within 3 months of arrival, and back dated to the first day of the month of arrival. I am sure you know this perfectly well. Insurance premiums are always calculated on a montly, not daily basis. hence the advice often given here not to arrive and register at the end of a month, as you have to pay for whole month. "

Yes I did- as this is what we were told by our insurance provider. However the official for the health dept has clarified that with late arrival, the insurance has the choice to ignore this- but only for the few days at the end of the month (eg as in our case, arriving on 20th of March, they could have charged us from 1st of April, and not from 1st of March. So I have corrected my post in view of her reply- hope that is ok with you.

HI
I have signed health insurance with an Agent for Swica and it was dated on the 3rd month after my arrival. I have arrived in January and agreement was signed on 1st March to start the insurance from that date. After few days I have received confirmation from Swica that my insurance policy will be created from 5th January because I registered on that day so they have breached the contract I have signed with them. They insisting the insurance has to start from 5th January. I have exchanged correspondence with them but my arguments seem to be pointless. I have to provide registration certificate dated on March or have an exemption from Canton to sign the policy 2 months after arrival. Can anyone advise if this is legal ? Ignore the signed agreement ?

HI
I have signed health insurance with an Agent for Swica and it was dated on the 3rd month after my arrival. I have arrived in January and agreement was signed on 1st March to start the insurance from that date. After few days I have received confirmation from Swica that my insurance policy will be created from 5th January because I registered on that day so they have breached the contract I have signed with them. They insisting the insurance has to start from 5th January. I have exchanged correspondence with them but my arguments seem to be pointless. I have to provide registration certificate dated on March or have an exemption from Canton to sign the policy 2 months after arrival. Can anyone advise if this is legal ? Ignore the signed agreement ?

Possibly they didn't realise your arrival date when they made the agreement?

The law is that you have to pay health insurance from the beginning of the month you arrive.

HI
I have signed health insurance with an Agent for Swica and it was dated on the 3rd month after my arrival. I have arrived in January and agreement was signed on 1st March to start the insurance from that date. After few days I have received confirmation from Swica that my insurance policy will be created from 5th January because I registered on that day so they have breached the contract I have signed with them. They insisting the insurance has to start from 5th January. I have exchanged correspondence with them but my arguments seem to be pointless. I have to provide registration certificate dated on March or have an exemption from Canton to sign the policy 2 months after arrival. Can anyone advise if this is legal ? Ignore the signed agreement ?

If you registered in January then you became a resident of Switzerland then and have to have the mandatory health insurance cover. So SWICA are absolutely correct in backdating the policy, sorry.

This is also quite normal by the way. If you had had an accident or illness between the time of your registration and setting up your policy you could have claimed back any expenses you paid out because the policy was back-dated. So it can work both ways, although obviously you'd really prefer not to have the accident/illness in the first place.

This user would like to thank Medea Fleecestealer for this useful post: